Himani Chandna is a Delhi-based journalist covering the business of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, human resources and brands
Articles by Himani Chandna
DTH game goes for more frills in hot competition
Social networking freaks, housewives, students, farmers, kids and businessmen — these form part of the new target audience for direct-to-home (DTH) companies that are looking at a new VAS (value-added services)-based model to set their cash registers ringing.
Updated on Aug 11, 2011 01:56 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Clouds hang over solar mission projects
Ambitious projects under the Jawaharlal National Solar Mission are stuck despite an overwhelming response after the government found holes in the corporate equity holding structures of companies meant to implement them.
Updated on Aug 02, 2011 10:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Solar power is industry's Plan B
As a shortage of coal and sagging power production targets make industry experts look to alternative sources of power, solar energy is emerging as the likely best bet, though not yet in the league for heavy-duty industrial use. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Jul 28, 2011 10:17 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Facebook, Twitter are the new customer care
As companies build Facebook pages or Twitter feeds to push their brands, in the age of social media, the sites are platforms for customer complaints. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Jul 21, 2011 08:54 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
For Indian veggies, KFC is not chicken
Never mind the poultry. Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), is shedding its famous wings – literally, perhaps – as it aims for high growth in the Indian market after a decade of fumbling for growth.
Updated on Jul 12, 2011 11:23 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
E-tailing blooms with the Net
Brands ranging from Bata and Godrej to Benetton and Woodland are betting on direct sales over the internet, sharing profit margins with consumers while cutting distribution costs. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports. The e-tail revolution
Updated on Jul 08, 2011 09:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Lanco Infra to invest Rs 1,700 cr in solar unit
Lanco Solar Energy, a subsidiary of Lanco Infratech, plans to infuse Rs 1,700 crore for the second phase of India’s first integrated Solar PV manufacturing special economic zone (SEZ) project in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh.
Updated on Jun 29, 2011 12:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
India a hotspot for solar VCs
Solar energy, a growing favourite with venture capitalists worldwide in a $100 billion (Rs 4,50,000 crore), has another favourite now – India.
Updated on Jun 23, 2011 02:47 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Tourist rush hour in Kashmir
The flights are full, new buildings tell of a growing demand for hotel rooms and motley crowds on the banks of the Dal lake signal that the paradise once considered lost may yet be regained. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Jun 21, 2011 01:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Solar energy biz hits new frontiers
The national solar mission is bringing in a whole new set of businesses associated with solar energy.
Updated on Jun 15, 2011 10:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Cricket fatigue takes toll on Windies tour
Four months of non-stop cricket, a second-string team and inconvenient match timings appear to have taken a toll on the viewership of India's tour to the West Indies. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports. What caused the dip?
Updated on Jun 10, 2011 02:04 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
MMTC eyes wind, solar energy units
Trading giant MMTC is going beyond conventional bullion and is looking to invest in non-conventional energy projects in the field of wind farm and solar energy.
Updated on Jun 08, 2011 09:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, Karnataka
Retail push: Aditya Birla group lines up Rs 300-cr investment
Aditya Birla Retail Ltd (ABRL), the retail arm of the $29.2-billion diversified Aditya Birla Group, recently announced their plan to open 150 new supermarkets and 12 new hypermarkets in the current fiscal year for a planned investment of Rs 300 crore.
Updated on Jun 05, 2011 10:20 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
E-shopping sites spin jobs as customers, funds bloom
A decade after they were said to boom but failed, e-commerce sites are up once again — and this time for real, as internet penetration expands. And thanks to that, jobs are booming in the sector.
Updated on Jun 02, 2011 09:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Gush of funds greets wind projects
A gush of investment activity has been breezing across India’s wind energy economy in recent months as private equity funds and asset financing companies seek to exploit opportunities in the sector coming through a mix of tax breaks, policy incentives and ecological benefits, experts said.
Updated on May 30, 2011 02:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
IPL viewership down but ad money jingles
With four matches to go in the much-hyped Indian Premier League (IPL), the business of cricket is still alive and kicking, thank you.
Updated on May 23, 2011 09:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
IPL TV ratings take a plunge
Call it viewer fatigue. People aren't rushing home to catch the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches on television. Midway through the fourth season, the IPL has recorded the lowest-ever television rating points (TRPs) since its inception four years ago. Himani Chandna Gutroo reports.
Updated on May 04, 2011 12:00 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gutroo, New Delhi
MMTC now eyes medallions
Trading giant MMTC Ltd is eyeing the medallion segment to cash in on the growing demand for the category. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on May 03, 2011 09:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
‘GST could add 1.5% to GDP’
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has outlined a five-pronged strategy for achieving 10% GDP growth.
Updated on Apr 26, 2011 09:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo
WillKat for India: the wedding ball for eyeballs
Britain's royal wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton maybe a far away event, but a colonial legacy is not stopping eager Indians from making it a big TV event. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Apr 22, 2011 11:45 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Multiplexes are back to normal business
April has turned out to be a normal month for the multiplexes across the country compared with the last few months.
Updated on Apr 17, 2011 09:04 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Brand Dhoni on top
It’s official. Advertisers clearly have placed their bets firmly on World Cup-beating cricket Indian captain MS Dhoni, ahead of other sporting idols and Bollywood superstars. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Apr 15, 2011 01:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Cricket creates a wow on mobile apps
Mobile apps based on cricket – to get scores, watch highlights and play games – are booming this season. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Apr 11, 2011 01:01 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
IPL biz gains on World Cup win
The still-green euphoria over India's win in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 is a heady tailwind for the fourth season of the IPL that kicks off on Friday, spelling business opportunities for players, companies, advertisers and brand managers. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports. The league of extraordinary money
Updated on Apr 08, 2011 01:49 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Yuvraj Singh breaks into big brand league
ICC World Cup 2011 Man of the Tournament Yuvraj Singh is turning into the man of the moment on the brand endorsement circuit. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Apr 04, 2011 10:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Willow power: as India march into the final, bat industry hits a ton
India’s surge to the finals of cricket world cup has given domestic cricket bat industry a shot in the arm.
Updated on Apr 01, 2011 09:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
Industry captains cheer Team India, in Mohali and away
Far from the madding crowd at Mohali, where the Indian and Pakistan cricket teams were slugging it out for a place in the World Cup finals, corporate bigwigs took a day off from boardrooms, devoting the day entirely to discuss the nitty-gritty of the match.
Updated on Mar 30, 2011 11:11 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
India-Pak match: brand panacea?
The India-Pakistan World Cup cricket semi-final is here, and advertisers have turned Wednesday's big match into a one-shot solution for brands.
Updated on Mar 29, 2011 09:22 PM IST
None | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
India-Pak semi-final bumps up TV ad rates
It is not just the fans who would be hoping Dhoni and his boys to deliver the knock-out punch to the Paskitanis in the semi-final clash in Mohali on Wednesday.
Updated on Mar 28, 2011 10:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi
India Inc offers half-day leave, giant screens
It will be one of those rare days where executives will hurry into conference halls in swank corporate offices - but not to make presentations on profits and sales. They will cheer the Men in Blue, instead. Himani Chandna Gurtoo reports.
Updated on Mar 27, 2011 03:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Himani Chandna Gurtoo, New Delhi